Dozens of Chihuahuas filled the Monterey County Fairgrounds Saturday for the sixth annual Chihuahua Pride Day.

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Twelve-year-old Annie made her way through the obstacle course with ease thanks to her current owner and dog trainer, Barbara DeGroot.

DeGroot said Annie had a tough life before she adopted her.

"They thought that maybe she had about six or seven litters of puppies and I didn't know it but apparently when she came into the shelter she couldn't walk," DeGroot said.

It's not uncommon for Chihuahuas to be bred in homes. But many end up in animal shelters.

Some are lucky to find a home with people like Jeannette Sutton of Marina.

"Wasilla was walking the streets of Salinas. Molly was walking the streets. Nobody wanted her because her tongue was hanging," Sutton said. "They wanted to use my black and white one for breeding and we said no. It's a death sentence to breed that little of a dog."

At the Monterey County Animal Shelter at least half of the dogs are pit bulls or Chihuahuas. The smaller dogs make up about 65 percent of the dogs in the care of the Monterey County SPCA.

"A lot of times we have to resort to sending them far away to get them adopted," said Julie Wolfe, co-founder of Chihuahua Pride Day, which is meant to promote the adoption of the little dogs as well as prevent more dogs from ending up without a home.

The proceeds from a silent auction provide spay and neuter vouchers, provided in an effort to make the services accessible.

So far they have been able to fund 550 vouchers.

Wolfe said there is also a need for people to change the way they think about Chihuahuas.

"I think it started off many years ago with the popularity of the Taco Bell dog and all the Hollywood celebrities that liked to carry their dogs around in their purses. Chihuahuas can live 20 years and you have to be prepared for a long-term commitment, and it's not an accessory, it's not a fashion statement, it's a living creature, and if you are not in it for the long haul please don't get one," Wolfe said.

The SPCA of Monterey County is trying to make animal adoption more accessible too.

They are having a "Pick Your Price" sale through Sunday. People interested in adopting a pet can choose what they want to pay for the adoption fee.